Harvest Potluck at Depot 

The days are growing shorter, a nip is beginning to appear in the air, the trees are showing their first signs of color—that wonderful time of year is upon us once more.  As we have for several years now, the Society will celebrate the turning with our annual Harvest Potluck.  The official end of Charlevoix’s tourist season  approaches when Apple Fest will pack the town to the gills only a few days later.

When: Tuesday, October 7 at 6:00 P. M. 

Where: the Depot

 So unearth your favorite hearty recipe and gather with us once again for this celebration of our beautiful and all too few invigorating autumn days. (Those of you familiar with past newsletters would be terribly let down if at this point your editor did not proclaim—In the name of all that’s sacred go lightly on the squash!  I loathe squash!  Author Russell Baker, who equally detested it, got it right when he said “It tastes like it sounds.”  But don’t let that influence you.)

Be sure to bring your own tableware and silver, plus a serving utensil(s) for your dish if necessary.  We provide napkins, beverages, and drinking cups.  The Depot has two microwaves, a fridge, a range and oven for a little preparatory work,  plus electrical outlets for warming dishes.

Everyone is welcome to bring guests.  The event is open to the public. 

As a bonus, music will be provided once again by Eric Ernst, guitarist and singer of ballads  whose unique brand of entertainment brought so many laughs in the past. 

NOTE:  Do not be discouraged by the heavy construction on Chicago Avenue leading from Dixon Avenue down to the Depot.  The City will provide an access lane for the event should it be necessary at that time.

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Park Avenue Prowl On-line

As announced in the June newsletter, a new brochure called the Park Avenue Prowl has recently been published by Raechel Wright of the Alcove Café and Tony Duerr of Pine River Books, both on Park Avenue. Visit their new website at www.charlevoixparkavenue.com to learn about the places and people along the way and view many historic photographs from the Society’s archives that help tell the story of the street, its surrounding attractions, and much more.

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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 

Dear Members:

If you haven’t been past the Depot recently, now is not a good time to go!  The road down to it is completely torn up, down to the sand.  A new one will be a vast improvement, but we did manage to save a few chunks of the old scored surface.  It was put in place a century ago to facilitate the passage of horses up the hill during the early days of the existence of the Depot.  We would have loved to score the surface of the new street in the same way, but the cost was prohibitive. The souvenir we kept will be put on display with an historical explanation. 

As soon as the road work is finished, please take the time to see how great the Depot looks.  The dormer has been painted, the pillar restoration is almost finished, and the releveled brick paver decking looks wonderful as well as being much safer.  Much of this was accomplished with the excellent effort of some of our very own members who were willing to share their great skills.  We’re very proud of what has been done.

Of course the beautiful gardens add infinitely to the gloriousness of the whole scene.  Two events this summer utilized the lovely landscape; the Venetian Potluck and the Ice Cream Social were delightful out there.  Many, many thanks to the Garden Club.

We’ll look forward to seeing you at the Fall Potluck in October and the Spaghetti Dinner at the Villager Pub on November 5.  Until then, take care, and keep in touch!

Sincerely, Mona Bergeon, President

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CHRISTMAS COLLECTIONS STILL NEEDED FOR DISPLAY

We are still in need of collections of Christmas crèches, ornaments, nutcrackers, vintage  holiday cards, bulbs, etc. for a display at the Depot over the Thanksgiving weekend.  We need eleven more to make a viable exhibit.  If you can contribute, or know of anyone who might be willing to loan, contact Karen Pierce at 547-6004, Betsy Reynolds at 547-4640, or the Harsha House.

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SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED LAST SPRING 

 Last May, President Paul Nowak awarded two $500 scholarships to graduating seniors of Charlevoix High School for outstanding historical essays.  These scholarships are available to any senior who is intending to pursue higher education.  The essays are judged by a committee, and the awards are not limited to one student but are given on a merit basis.  The two winning students were: Meighen Havens for “The Wind in My Sails,” about her mother as a young girl finding and keeping an abandoned Sunfish sailboat that cemented her love for Charlevoix and the lakes, and Leah Kelly, for “Learning from History Is a Natural Progression, Right?” about Charlevoix students’ relationship to baseball.  The other students who submitted essays were Autumn Atkins, Michelle Burke, Rebecca Madison, and Sarah Titus.  All six have been granted complimentary membership in the Society for one year.  All the essays are on file at the Harsha House for anyone who wishes to read them.

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PERFECT PAINT MATCH FOUND FOR LIGHTHOUSE 

A small chip of the original red paint was found under the current white paint on the lighthouse and submitted to the Sherman-Williams paint company who were able to match it to one of their classic hues, called appropriately enough Lighthouse Red.  This will be used when the time comes next year to redo the lighthouse in its historically correct color.

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DOES ANYONE HAVE DEPOT TABLECLOTHS? 

A recent inventory of the tablecloths used to cover the tables for our potlucks at the Depot revealed that some are missing.  Did anyone take them home to wash and iron after an event and forget to bring them back?  Please let President Bergeon know at 547-2742.

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A TRIBUTE TO TWO MEMBERS 

The Society recently lost two of its most loyal supporters, Charlevoixite Jim Lewis and summer resident Mel Durbin.   Both were quiet, behind the scenes men who each in his own way made significant contributions to the organization.

Jim was a former member of the Board of Directors, responsible for the welfare of our two buildings, and served on various committees.  He always helped his wife, exhibit chair Karen Lewis, in the preparation for mounting exhibits either at Harsha House or the Depot—new shelving, repaired dry wall, new paint, display cabinets, transportation of artifacts from and to storage, electrical work, everything basic that needed doing to make a new exhibit look like it took no effort at all.   Even when they wintered in Florida, he frequently called the Harsha House just to find out how things were going.  His practicality and basic good sense got us through many complicated situations. 

Mel described himself as having been born with a camera around his neck.  He loved Charlevoix as much as he loved anything in life, and photographed it in all seasons over many years.  The basement of his summer home on Pa-Be-Shan Lane became a photo exhibit gallery.  Over the past few years he donated to the Society more than 130 of his best works of the town and its surroundings, almost all in full color, almost all 13” x 19” and printed on quality paper.  They now constitute an important and prized part of our photo archives.

Both men will be missed very much.

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The Society welcomes new members: Ellen J. Goldstick; Carl & Barb Roehling (Ralph Hamilton Circle)

Donations (unrestricted) received in August from: Anonymous (2); Mike & Mona Bergeon in honor of Roger and Cynthia Postmus’ 50^th Wedding Anniversary; Mike & Mona Bergeon, Bruce & Barbara MacArthur in honor of Alvin & Patsy Ranger’s 50^th Wedding Anniversary

Donations for the lighthouse restoration received in August from: George & Mary Elizabeth Smith; Robert & Leona Winchester in memory of    Frank Ochs and Max Hosmer; Alberta Beyers in honor of Roger & Cynthia Postmus’ 50^th Wedding Anniversary

Donations for the Depot restoration received in August from: Currier Lawn Maintenance Inc.; Ferguson & Chamberlain Associates Inc.

Donations in memory of Jim Lewis received in August from: Consumers Energy; Bob & Alva Schrader; Condit & Elaine Drury;  Jeannine Wallace; Paul & Sally Hoelderle; Richard & Jan Dilley;                Roger & Cynthia Postmus; Mike & Mona Bergeon; Bob & Margaret Heath; David & Cynthia Garland; Jerry & Kate Left; Judy Petroskey;                      Ron & Elma Collins; Jim & Shirley Eckerle; Mike & Sue Miller;               Rev. Francis A. Partridge; George & Linda Smith; Russell & Jeane DeWitt;               Harry & Loretta Sanborn; L. M. & Margaret Hausler; Bob & Fran Tollas;                 James Alger & Nancy Jo Lyons; Marjory Dinwiddie; Rosalyn Goldstick; Deano & Joyce Davenport; Bob Card & Jill Golder Associates

Donation in memory of Frank Ochs received in August from: the Chipperi family

Donations in memory of Mel Durbin received in August from: Gerald & Judith Primak; Richard & Julie Zussman; Chris & Kim Prowse; Donald & Katy Esterline; Jeff & Eileene Wachler; Lillian Hoard;       Vivian Cohen & family; Association of Michigan Realtors

Donation in memory of Robert Miles, Jr. received in August from: Rosalyn Goldstick

Donation in memory of Max Hosmer received in August from: Deano & Joyce Davenport

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